Abigail Jennings is a trailblazer.

She has became the first girl to join Addingham Scout Group’s Beaver section and was enrolled along with four other six-year-olds.

Her decision to join the Beavers, rather than Rainbows, is not surprising given her mum, Marilyn, is the village’s Cub leader and Assistant District Commissioner for the Wharfe Valley, and her dad, Paul, is the Scout leader and Assistant County Commissioner for West Yorkshire.

Mr Jennings said: “We were delighted when she said she wanted to join Beavers. She said she saw how much fun we have when we went every week and wanted to do the same.

“It’s wonderful that we have finally got girls in the group. We are the last in Wharfedale to get one, thanks mainly to the thriving youth work that goes on in the village, with two Brownie packs and a large Guide troop.

“It’s just been the norm that girls went to Guides and boys to the Scouts.

“Now we have one, and another two on the waiting list, we may see many more girls enjoy the kind of adventure the group has to offer.”